PERENNIALS: The Definitive Reference and ANNUALS & IENNIALS: The Definitive Reference

Just in time for planting season, two sources arrive from Firefly that include more than 1,000 photographs identifying and cataloguing almost all flowering plants. Annuals are "plants that germinate, flower, set seed and die all within a single year while biennials germinate one year and usually flower the next after spending a dormant winter." Perennials produce seed for future generations and bloom year after year. The nature photographers and horticulturists provide for each plant a brief background and describe the typical combinations to be found in various types of settings, such as north European subalpine meadows, New Zealand tussocked grasslands and Himalayan wet meadows. Typical listings begin with botanical names, original locations, where they are found and complete descriptions. Photos in actual locations and specimens on neutral backgrounds identify the great variety included. Main selection of Garden Book Club. (Apr.)